Denmark’s Christian Rasmussen was a dominant force in today’s second leg of the Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of Alabama Presented by Cooper Tires, but it was New Zealander Hunter McElrea who claimed the victory spoils following a dramatic 30-lap contest. Rasmussen was first to the checkered flag despite a quick spin in the closing stages, but the Dane was adjudged to have unfairly impeded his rival, McElrea, as he attempted to maintain his lead following the error.
The resulting five-second penalty dropped Rasmussen to second in the final results, handing McElrea his second Indy Pro 2000 victory for Pabst Racing after also claiming the final race of the 2020 season in St. Petersburg.
“I was all over Christian for the first five laps to try and apply the pressure, but he had the most pace today,” commented McElrea. “Having gotten sixth yesterday, I was going for points today and was ready to accept second when I came out of Turn Five and he was stopped in the middle of the road.
” He put three blocks on me, so I feel as though he had the win just about in the bag but he gave it to me. He was super fast; I’m sure he’s disappointed. I love racing him, I know we’ll have some good battles this year, but I got lucky with that win and in this game, you have to take them.
“I probably had the second-place car today but I got lucky. This win puts me right where I need to be.”
Russian Artem Petrov finished third for Exclusive Autosport, chased across the line by teammate Braden Eves, from New Albany, Ohio, who still leads the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires standings following his victory in yesterday’s opening round.
McElrea’s efforts moved him to third in the championship points table, just six shy of Eves, and secured a first PFC Award of the Indy Pro 2000 season for Augie Pabst as the winning car owner.
he Indy Pro 2000 contenders will return to action in just a few days when they take on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., for another pair of races run in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Provisional championship points after 2 of 18 rounds (Top 5):
1/ Braden Eves, 51
2/ Artem Petrov, 47
3/ Hunter McElrea, 45
4/ Christian Rasmussen, 37
5/ Reece Gold, 30
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